Passportia for Americans looking to live in the United Kingdom

You may be eligible to obtain British citizenship via ancestry or via marriage. Typically this involves a person who:

• has a parent or grandparent born in the United Kingdom, British Islands, or before May 1922, all Ireland, • was born, adopted or naturalised in the UK or a British territory,
• is a child of a British citizen or person described above,
• had a link to a former British colony or protectorate,
• was married to a male UK citizen before 1983, or,
• was resident in the UK or British overseas territory, or served its government or military forces (naturalisation).

There are many other routes. A British citizen may obtain a British passport and live or work in the UK, Gurnsey, Jersey, Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. If you have Canadian citizenship, or citizenship of another Commonwealth country, you may also be eligible for the Ancestry Visa, which can lead to permanent residence and citizenship. British citizens have the right to live and work in the UK and leave and enter as they please.

Passportia specialises in finding unique ancestral claims. Please see here for more details.

You will likely be eligible for a High Potential Individual Visa, if you graduated with a degree within the last five years from one of the 50 top global universities listed here. Almost half of the universities listed are in the US.

This visa does not require a job offer but does allow you to work in the UK. The visa is granted for two years (or three years if you have a PhD). You may also bring your partner and children to the UK on this visa.

The visa does not lead to permanent residence (indefinite leave to remain) but you can transfer onto a visa that does, such as a skilled worker visa.

Please note that if you have or are going to graduate with a degree from a UK institution, you may apply for the Graduate Visa.

The Skilled Worker Visa is the most common route into the UK. It requires you to have a job offer from a UK organisation with a sponsor license as well as meeting other requirements. The visa allows for permanent residency (ILR) after 5 years and you can bring your partner and children to the UK.

The Global Business Mobility Visa allows international workers to move to the UK branch of their current employer. It is subdivided to accommodate for Senior Workers and Graduate Trainees for example. It does not require proving a knowledge of English. On this visa you can bring your partner and children to the UK. However, the visa does not allow provide a path to permanent residency (ILR).

The UK Expansion Worker Visa is a subset of the GBM visa for those setting up a UK branch of their current employer.

The Innovator Founder visa is open to entrepreneurs who have received an endorsement from an approved endorsing body.

On this route, you may obtain permanent residency (indefinite leave to remain) in only 3 years if your business meets the Home Office requirements. You may also bring your partner and children to the UK on this visa.

Please see here for more information on how to obtain an endorsement and apply.

Under the Spouse Visa, a person who does not have British citizenship can potentially get for the purpose of residence in the UK leave to enter or remain in the UK, or exemption from leave, through one of these channels, where the spouse or partner:

• has been granted (or is being granted) leave in a category that covers dependents, such as through UK ancestry or a work permit.
• has been settled in the UK (or is being admitted for settlement). [Immigration Rules Appendix FM, “Spouse Visa”]
• is exempt from control through his or her employment, typically with an embassy, consulate, visiting military force or international organisation.
• has a parent who is an EU citizen or partner of an EU citizen, if entry to the UK takes place before the end of 2020.

Leave under the first three cases above is normally only granted on entry to the UK to a partner who obtained the appropriate entry clearance or visa from a British consulate or visa application centre in the partner’s country of residence.

Under the Child Visa, a minor child who does not have British citizenship can for the purpose of residence potentially get leave to enter or remain in the UK, or exemption from leave, through one of these channels if the child:

• has a parent granted (or being granted) leave in category that covers dependents, such as through UK ancestry or a work permit.
• has two parents (or a parent with sole responsibility) settled in the UK (or being admitted for settlement). [Immigration Rules Part 8, para 297 or 298, “Settlement Visa”]
• has one parent settled in the UK (or being admitted for settlement). [Immigration Rules Appendix FM]
• is adopted by a parent settled in the UK (or being admitted for settlement or with limited leave). [Immigration Rules Part 8, paras 310 to 316].
• has a parent who is exempt from control through employment, typically with an embassy, consulate, visiting military force or international organisation.
• has a parent who is an EU citizen or partner of an EU citizen, if entry to the UK takes place before the end of 2020.

For those already in the United Kingdom (with limited or indefinite leave), Passportia can advise you on applications for permanent residency (indefinite leave) and citizenship.